Bert stealth: 14

Zook listens to the details of the final plan while stroking his short little pointed beard, and nods his approval. 

”Very well! Good luck, you two. Be as stealthy as a calm summer breeze and have fun in the water. And wish us good luck as well. Hopefully, they’ll just let us back in without any problems.”

“Come Mandy and Hala... Hari... Um... I’m sorry... I’ve forgotten already. I’ll just call you Mr. Great Sword for now. And all of you villagers, follow me!”

With the others in tow, Zook walks around to the main path and stops in front of the moat and the closed drawbridge. Clearing his throat, the gnome musters up his “loud voice,” which he’s clearly not accustomed to using as he addresses the guards up on the wall. 

“Hello up there! Remember me? I am Kella’s friend Zook, and I am accompanying the inhabitants of Nightstone. We have rescued them from a host of goblins and two very nasty ogres in a nearby cave, which we have killed, and we also killed the goblin leader. He was just as mean, if I do say so myself.”

”Anyway, now that all the excitement is over, there people are very tired and hungry, and they’re eager to return to homes and get some proper rest before they can start rebuilding their broken homes.”

”So, please lower the drawbridge so we can come in!”

Halizthan gives the gnome an unimpressed look at his name already beging forgotten. He chalks it up to gnomes being smart but having the attention span of a flea for the most part. He will turn his attention up towards the person on the wall, keeping his weapons close as he considers going for the large crossbow on his back.

Stealth: 23

Mandaway kept pace with Halizthan, " This will be interesting...."

10

Someone thinks they see movement from Bert, before being distracted by the movement of villagers and the others.

Bert and Hawk, give me an athletics check to cross the river

The guards on the wall listens to Zook and you hear one say to the other "Get the boss" 

Frustrated by their lack of willingness to open the drawbridge without further confirmation from a higher authority, Zook calls up to the guard again, trying to retain a cheerful, but urgent tone in his voice. 

“You don’t need to check with the boss. C’mon, my good sir, let us in. You know who we are... we’re the ones who stood beside you and helped you fight off those orcs a few hours ago. Remember? Please... we’re tired and hungry.”

As he speaks, Zook pulls out a bit of fleece from his belt pouch, and then remembering what the Zhent boss sounds like, he casts Minor Illusion and creates the illustory sound of the The Boss’s voice saying “It’s OK... Let them in” from somewhere down and behind the guards.

Athletics: 19

Bert athletics: 2

If Bert seems to not be making headway swimming, he'd just use misty step to get to the wall.

Bert has to use misty step but you both get across. You now need to climb a steep hill (do either of you have climbing equipment? if not athletics again)

Zook, minor illusion has somatic and material components, make a stealth check to do it without them seeing and an arcana check to match the voice, though one guard has already started going (doesn't mean it won't stop them)

Bert has pitons and rope, if he can use that to help himself and Hawk up the hill. Athletics: 14

 With Cat's Claws feature, Hawk has a climbing speed of 20 ft. He can help Bert with his ropes and pitons as he climbs.

Helpful!

Perfect, you make your way up without needing a check as that is climbing gear. You don't see much from where you are, you can see the town square but not much movement going on (will get back to you after Zook rolls)

Zook Slight of Hand Check: 19

Arcana Check: 9

The guard on his way comes back, hearing the bosses voice, before the guard who stayed points out "Don't trust the voice, that one down there did something" 

Bert and Hawk, stealthing to the square toy see a guard run to the inn, and come out with Xolkin (the boss) 

What do Bert and Hawk see that has changed in the town? We haven't been gone long but have they cleaned up anything, or looted more? Are there fewer people or more people?

And it seems there is pretty decent cover along the wall to get closer to the gates to be able to see the discussion and Xolkin's response, right? 

Bert will start to draw closer, in the darkness behind the wall, drawing an arrow to his bow, ready for anything.

Zook turns to Halizthan, a sheepish grin on his face.

“Well, I gave it a go, but my effort seems to have failed. Do you have any ideas, Mr. Great Sword?” 

Same people not much has changed. It has been a day. 

Xolkin turns up, takes one look down "Why did you get me, it is Kella's friends and a bunch of weak looking villagers, they aren't a threat, let them in" and the drawbridge is lowered 

"I was going to shoot them and then find a way over the wall but it appears there is no need." Halizthan says as he sheathes his blade and steps across the bridge slowly.